I drove through southern Colorado last weekend and noted hundreds of empty TTAX cars parked for miles from Del Norte, CO west to well past South Fork where the track veered away from the highway. Why are so many cars parked there? Since this is single track, how do they get them stacked in there? There were gaps in the cars at all the grade crossings, but the rest was covered with solid TTAX's.

Dale,

Those have been there for quite some time. I remember seeing them on past trips. First guess is that these spine cars are not economical as they aren't as useful as double stacks. Almost all cars and locos are purchased using equipment trusts and can't be scrapped until the trust is paid off. "Trains" magazine had an article some time ago about having to switch out specific cars from a many-mile long string of stored cars. At least the tourest railroad that owns the track is getting some revenue by storing these old cars.

ChipR

quote:

Those have been there for quite some time. I remember seeing them on past trips. First guess is that these spine cars are not economical as they aren't as useful as double stacks. Almost all cars and locos are purchased using equipment trusts and can't be scrapped until the trust is paid off.

Interesting. NOW one will have to take a closer look at those spine cars. I betch they are of the 48' type.... outdated as international is 40' and domestic is 53'... using 48' for international created more wasted space than a 40' car.